U.S. patent number 6,459,863 [Application Number 09/801,227] was granted by the patent office on 2002-10-01 for method and system for information control capable of effectively performing an automatic payment for maintenance expenses.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Masahiro Kawabe.
United States Patent |
6,459,863 |
Kawabe |
October 1, 2002 |
Method and system for information control capable of effectively
performing an automatic payment for maintenance expenses
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism
for performing an image forming operation, a detachable process
cartridge, a card inlet having a data input and output port, and a
controlling mechanism. The process cartridge contains material used
to make the image visible. The card inlet receives for electrical
connection an electronic money integrated circuit card including an
integrated circuit chip dedicated to an electronic money
application. The controlling mechanism having an integrated circuit
chip dedicated to the electronic money application controls the
image forming operation and is capable of communicating for
monetary information with the electronic money integrated circuit
card.
Inventors: |
Kawabe; Masahiro (Kanagawa-ken,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
18582396 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/801,227 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2001 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 7, 2000 [JP] |
|
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2000-062373 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/79; 399/24;
399/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
21/02 (20130101); G03G 21/1875 (20130101); G03G
21/1882 (20130101); G06Q 20/0652 (20130101); G07F
7/08 (20130101); H04N 1/34 (20130101); G03G
15/5079 (20130101); G03G 2215/00092 (20130101); G03G
2215/00105 (20130101); G03G 2221/183 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/00 (20060101); G03G 21/02 (20060101); G07F
7/08 (20060101); H04N 1/34 (20060101); G03G
015/00 (); G03G 015/08 (); G04L 012/24 (); H04N
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;399/79,8,9,24,25,26,27
;358/1.15,1.16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chen; Sophia S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cooper & Dunham LLP
Claims
What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letter
Patent of the United States is:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming
mechanism configured to perform an image forming operation for
forming an image on a recording sheet; a process cartridge
configured to contain material used to make said image visible,
said process cartridge being detachably installed in said
apparatus; a card inlet configured to receive an electronic money
integrated circuit card, said card inlet including a data input and
output port for connecting to said electronic money integrated
circuit card when it is inserted in said card inlet including an
integrated circuit chip dedicated to an electronic money
application; and a controlling mechanism configured to control said
image forming operation performed by said image forming mechanism,
said controlling mechanism including an integrated circuit chip
dedicated to said electronic money application, said controlling
mechanism capable of communicating for monetary information with
said electronic money integrated circuit card via said data input
and output port.
2. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming
mechanism configured to perform an image forming operation for
forming an image on a recording sheet; a process cartridge
configure d to contain material used to make said image visible,
said process cartridge being detachably installed in said
apparatus, said process cartridge including an electronic money
application unit which includes an integrated circuit chip
dedicated to an electronic money application; and a controlling
mechanism configured to control said image forming operation
performed by said image forming mechanism, said controlling
mechanism including an integrated circuit chip dedicated to said
electronic money application, said controlling mechanism capable of
communicating for monetary information with said process cartridge
with said integrated circuit chips dedicated for said electronic
money application.
3. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein s aid
electronic money application unit of said process cartridge further
includes a data input and output port for electrically connecting
to an electronic money integrated circuit card to enable said
electronic money application unit to communicate for said monetary
information with said electronic money integrated circuit card.
4. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said
electronic money application unit of said process cartridge further
includes a battery powering said electronic money application unit
to communication for said monetary information with said electronic
money integrated circuit card via said data input and output
port.
5. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said
monetary information handled by said electronic money application
unit of said process cartridge includes property information for
identifying said process cartridge.
6. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said
property information included in said monetary information includes
a part number, a manufacturing number, and a price of said process
cartridge.
7. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 2, further
comprising a communication mechanism configured to perform
communications for said monetary information using at least one of
said integrated circuit chips dedicated for said electronic money
application with an external host computer located at a remote
control center.
8. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said
external host computer stores a data base holding history
information for a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
9. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said
communication mechanism performs said communications with said
external host computer at one or more predetermined times of a day
on as-needed basis.
10. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said
communication mechanism performs said communications via a
telephone network.
11. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said
communication mechanism performs said communications via an
Internet using Internet functions of E-mail or a file transfer
protocol.
12. An information control system, comprising: an image forming
apparatus comprising: a control unit comprising an integrated
circuit chip dedicated to an electronic money application; a data
input and output port configured to exchange monetary information
via said integrated circuit chip; a process cartridge comprising an
electronic money application unit including another integrated
circuit chip dedicated to said electronic money application; a
memory; and a first communication mechanism configured to perform
communications for said monetary information; and an external host
computer located at a remote control center, said external host
computer comprising: a data base for storing history information
for a plurality of image recording apparatuses including said image
forming apparatus; and a second communications mechanism configured
to perform communications for said monetary information, wherein
said image forming apparatus and said external host computer
establish a communication connection with a specific address
predetermined by said remote control center, said image forming
apparatus generates configuration information of said image forming
apparatus, stores i t in said memory, and sends it to said host
computer through said communication connection, said host computer
generates a certified configuration configuration information sent
from said image forming apparatus, stores it in said data base at
said specific address, and sends said certified configuration
information back to said image forming apparatus, said image
forming apparatus updates said configuration information with said
certified configuration information received from said host
computer after verification of it with said configuration
information stored in said memory, said image forming apparatus
sends a request for communications for said monetary information
with said certified configuration information, said host computer
approves said request for communications for said monetary
information requested by said image forming apparatus by verifying
said certified configuration information sent from said image
forming apparatus with said certified configuration information
stored in said data base.
13. An information control system as defined in claim 12, wherein
said control unit generates said configuration information using
said integrated circuit chips installed in said control unit and
said process cartridge.
14. An information control system as defined in claim 12, wherein
said host computer newly generates said certified configuration
information each time it approves said request for communications
requested by said image forming apparatus, said certified
configuration information newly generated being different from the
one previously generated, and said image forming apparatus updates
said newly generated certified configuration information after said
communications for said monetary information is completed.
15. An information control system as defined in claim 14, wherein
said host computer controls said history information of said image
forming apparatus in association with said newly generated
certified configuration application and afterwards accepts said
request for communications when receiving it with said newly
generated certified configuration application from said image
forming apparatus.
16. An information control system as defined in claim 12, wherein
said history information includes apparatus history information
including a cumulative number of prints performed, a cumulative
amount of consumable items consumed, configuration of optional
equipment, and errors that have occurred.
17. An information control system as defined in claim 12, wherein
said history information includes customer history information
including names of users and a cumulative number of prints
performed per each user.
18. An information control method, comprising the steps of:
providing an image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit
comprising an integrated circuit chip dedicated to an electronic
money application; a data input and output port configured to
exchange monetary information via said integrated circuit chip; a
process cartridge comprising an electronic money application unit
including another integrated circuit chip dedicated to said
electronic money application; a memory; and a first communication
mechanism configured to perform communications for said monetary
information; and placing an external host computer located at a
remote control center, said external host computer comprising: a
data base for storing history information for a plurality of image
recording apparatuses including said image forming apparatus; and a
second communications mechanism configured to perform
communications for said monetary information, establishing a
communication connection between said image forming apparatus and
said external host computer establish with a specific address
predetermined by said remote control center; generating
configuration information of said image forming apparatus; storing
said configuration information in said memory; sending said
configuration information to said host computer through said
communication connection; creating a certified configuration
information by adding a certification code to said configuration
information sent from said image forming apparatus; writing said
certified configuration information in said data base at said
specific address; transferring said certified configuration
information back to said image forming apparatus; updating said
configuration information stored in said memory with said certified
configuration information received from said host computer after
verification with said configuration information stored in said
memory; transmitting a request for communications for said monetary
information with said certified configuration information; and
approving said request for communications for said monetary
information transmitted from said image forming apparatus by
verifying said certified configuration information transferred from
said image forming apparatus with said certified configuration
information written in said data base.
19. An information control method as defined in claim 18, wherein
said generating step generates said configuration information using
said integrated circuit chips mounted in said control unit and said
process cartridge.
20. An information control method as defined in claim 18, further
comprising steps of newly generating said certified configuration
information each time said approving step approves said request for
communications transmitted from said image forming apparatus, said
certified configuration information newly generated being different
from the one previously generated, and updating said newly
generated certified configuration information after said
communications for said monetary information is completed.
21. A method of operating an item of office equipment comprising:
automatically generating and updating, at said item of office
equipment, configuration and history information describing a
configuration and a history thereof; automatically storing said
configuration and history information, as updated, at the item of
office equipment; removably connecting an electronic money card to
said item of office equipment, and selectively charging the card in
relation to at least one of said configuration and said history
information stored at the item of office equipment; sending at
least one of said configuration and said history information, as
updated, to a remote host upon the occurrence of selected events;
and receiving, at said item of office equipment, an authorization
code updated to reflect selected changes in at least one of said
configuration and said history information, and storing the
authorization code as updated.
22. A method as in claim 21 in which the step of sending at least
one of said configuration and said history information, as updated,
to the host comprises sending the authorization code as
updated.
23. A method as in claim 22 in which the step of receiving the
authorization code, as updated, comprises verifying the received
code at the item of office equipment and storing the verified code
for future sending to said host.
24. A method as in claim 23 in which the selected events include
powering up the item of office equipment.
25. A method as in claim 23 in which the selected events include
selected changes in the configuration of the item of office
equipment.
26. A method as in claim 21 in which the configuration information
comprises information uniquely identifying selected components of
the item of office equipment.
27. A method as in claim 21 in which the history information
comprises information regarding usage of the item of office
equipment.
28. A method as in claim 21 including the step of carrying out
image forming operations at said item of office equipment and
including information thereon in said history information.
29. A method as in claim 21 comprising the step of including in
said configuration information a unique identification of a
consumable product included in said item of office equipment, and
including in said history information data regarding replacement of
said consumable product.
30. A method as in claim 29 including sending to and receiving from
a host, information regarding said consumable product.
31. A method as in claim 30 including the step of charging a money
card connected to the item of office equipment based at least in
part on said information regarding the consumable product sent to
and received from the host.
32. A method of maintaining an item of office equipment
communicating with a remote host comprising: generating and
updating, at said item of office equipment, at least one of
configuration information describing a configuration thereof and
history information describing a history thereof; storing said
configuration and history information, as updated, at the item of
office equipment; sending at least one of said configuration and
said history information, as updated, to the remote host upon the
occurrence of selected events, and storing at the host the
information sent by the item of office equipment; generating an
authorization code at the host in response to information received
from the item of office equipment, said host updating said code
into an updated code in response to new information sent to the
host from the item of office equipment; wherein said storing at and
sending from the item of office equipment comprises including said
updated code, and wherein each of the item of office equipment and
the host carries out a verification procedure to verify the updated
code; wherein matching sets of at least one of said configuration
and said history information are maintained at the host and at the
item of office equipment, and security is provided by the use of
the updated authorization code.
33. A method as in claim 32 in which said host communicates with
additional items of office equipment and maintains and updates a
unique set of at least one of said configuration and said history
information for each of said items of office equipment.
34. A method as in claim 33 in which at least some of said items of
office equipment carry out image forming operations and include
information thereof in said history information.
35. An item of office equipment comprising: means for automatically
generating and updating configuration and history information
describing a configuration and a history of said item of office
equipment; means for storing said configuration and history
information, as updated, at the item of office equipment; an
electronic money card removably connected to said item of office
equipment; means for selectively charging the card in relation to
at least one of said configuration and said history information
stored at the item of office equipment; means for sending at least
one of said configuration and said history information, as updated,
to a remote host upon the occurrence of selected events; and means
for receiving an authorization code updated to reflect selected
changes in at least one of said configuration and said history
information, and storing in authorization code as updated.
36. A method as in claim 35 in which the configuration information
comprises information uniquely identifying selected components of
the item of office equipment.
37. A system for maintaining an item of office equipment
communicating with a remote host comprising: an item of office
equipment, a remote host, and a communication link therebetween;
means for generating and updating, at said item of office
equipment, at least one of configuration information describing a
configuration thereof and history information describing a history
thereof; means for storing said configuration and history
information, as updated, at the item of office equipment; means for
sending at least one of said configuration and said history
information, as updated, to the remote host via said communication
link upon the occurrence of selected events, and for storing at the
host the information sent by the item of office equipment; means
for generating an authorization code at the host in response to
information received from the item of office equipment, said host
updating said code into an updated code in response to new
information sent to the host from the item of office equipment;
wherein said storing at and sending from the item of office
equipment comprises including said updated code, and wherein each
of the item of office equipment and the host carries out a
verification procedure to verify the updated code; whereby matching
sets of at least one of said configuration an said history
information are maintained at the host and at the item of office
equipment, and security is provided by the use of the updated
authorization code.
38. A system as in claim 37 including additional items
communicating with said host via said communication link, wherein
said host maintains and updates a unique set of at least one of
said configuration and said history information for each of said
items of office equipment.
39. A system as in claim 38 in which at least some of said items of
office equipment comprise means for carrying out image forming
operations.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present application relates to a method and system for
information control, and more particularly to a method and system
for information control that can effectively perform an automatic
payment for machine maintenance expenses.
2. Background
Many image forming devices, such as a laser printer, a copying
machine, a facsimile machine, etc. are provided with a storage
means for storing various kinds of job information mainly for
maintenance purposes. The job information typically includes daily
power-on hours, a cumulative number of prints performed, dates of
installation relative to specific components requiring a periodic
exchange such as toner, a photoconductive member, etc. Based on the
job information, an image forming apparatus usually calculates a
remaining life length of each specific component and determines if
any one of the specific components needs to be exchanged due to an
end of its life. If the machine determines that a specific
component needs to be exchanged, this will be indicated to the user
who will then take a necessary action; exchanging the component by
the user alone or contacting a repair center to ask for
service.
Office equipment technology increasingly takes into account
concerns for natural resource savings and recycling. Published
Japanese Unexamined patent application, Ser. No. 09-120249,
relating to a recycling of a process cartridge used in an image
forming apparatus is one example. This application, Ser. No.
09-120249, describes an image forming apparatus which includes a
process cartridge having a storage for storing recycling
information relative to the process cartridge. The process
cartridge of this image forming apparatus further includes a
connection connecting to the above storage, a detection for
detecting the recycling information, and a power supply unit. The
image forming apparatus attempts to appropriately indicate to the
user when to carry out a recycling of the process cartridge.
Recycling of the process cartridge involves procurement of a new
process cartridge, shipping arrangement, user's settlement of the
fee for exchange, storage of the exchanged process cartridge until
it is collected by a collection company, etc, in addition to
actually replacing the cartridge. As these processes are ongoing,
the user may place an order for consumable items such as toner,
which will also involve processes similar to the above. As a
result, this may require a complex system for a control center to
handle a plurality of customers of image forming apparatuses.
SUMMARY
The present application describes a novel image forming apparatus.
In one example, a novel image forming apparatus includes an image
forming mechanism, a process cartridge, a card inlet, and a
controlling mechanism. The image forming mechanism is configured to
perform an image forming operation for forming an image on a
recording sheet. The process cartridge is configured to contain
material used to visualize the image and is detachably installed in
the apparatus. The card inlet is configured to receive an
electronic money integrated circuit card. The card inlet includes a
data input and output port for connecting the electronic money
integrated circuit card when it is inserted in the card inlet,
wherein the above electronic money integrated circuit card includes
an integrated circuit chip dedicated for an electronic money
application. The controlling mechanism is configured to control the
image forming operation performed by the image forming mechanism,
includes an integrated circuit chip dedicated for the electronic
money application, and is capable of communicating for monetary
information with the electronic money integrated circuit card via
the data input and output ports.
The present application further describes another novel image
forming apparatus. In one example, another novel image forming
apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a process cartridge,
and a controlling mechanism. The image forming mechanism is
configured to perform an image forming operation for forming an
image on a recording sheet. The process cartridge is configured to
contain material used to visualize the image and is detachably
installed in the apparatus. The above process cartridge includes an
electronic money application unit which includes an integrated
circuit chip dedicated for an electronic money application. The
controlling mechanism is configured to control the image forming
operation performed by the image forming mechanism and includes an
integrated circuit chip dedicated for the electronic money
application. The above controlling mechanism is capable of
communicating for monetary information with the integrated circuit
chips dedicated for the electronic money application included in
the process cartridge.
The electronic money application unit of the process cartridge may
further include a data input and output port for electrically
connecting to an electronic money integrated circuit card so that
the electronic money application unit communicates for the monetary
information with the electronic money integrated circuit card.
The monetary information handled by the electronic money
application unit of the process cartridge may include property
information for identifying the process cartridge.
The property information included in the monetary information may
include a part number, a manufacturing number, and a price of the
process cartridge.
The electronic money application unit of the process cartridge may
further include a battery for allowing the electronic money
application unit to communicate for the monetary information with
the electronic money integrated circuit card via the data input and
output ports.
The above-described image forming apparatus may further include a
communication mechanism configured to perform communication for the
monetary information using the integrated circuit chip dedicated
for the electronic money application with an external host computer
located at a remote control center.
The external host computer may store a data base holding history
information for a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
The communication mechanism may perform the communications with the
external host computer at each predetermined time of a day or on
as-needed basis via a telephone network or via the Internet using
Internet functions of E-main or a file transfer protocol.
The present application further describes a novel information
control system. In one example, a novel information control system
includes an image forming apparatus and an external host computer.
The image forming apparatus includes a control unit, a data input
and output port, a process cartridge, a memory, and a first
communications mechanism. The control unit includes an integrated
circuit chip dedicated for an electronic money application. The
data input and output port is configured to exchange monetary
information via the integrated circuit chip. The process cartridge
includes an electronic money application unit including another
integrated circuit chip dedicated for the electronic money
application. The first communication mechanism is configured to
perform communications for the monetary information. The external
host computer is located at a remote control center and includes a
data base and a second communications mechanism. The data base
stores history information for a plurality of image recording
apparatuses including the image forming apparatus. The second
communications mechanism is configured to perform communications
for the monetary information. In the above-described information
control system, the image forming apparatus and the external host
computer establish a communication connection with a specific
address predetermined by the remote control center. The image
forming apparatus generates configuration information of the image
forming apparatus, stores it in the memory, and sends it to the
host computer through the communication connection. The host
computer generates a certified configuration information by adding
a certification code to the configuration information sent from the
image forming apparatus, stores it in the data base at the specific
address, and sends the certified configuration information back to
the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus updates
the configuration information with the certified configuration
information received from the host computer after verification of
it with the configuration information stored in the memory. The
image forming apparatus sends a request for communications for the
monetary information with the certified configuration information.
The host computer approves the request for communications for the
monetary information requested by the image forming apparatus by
verifying the certified configuration information sent from the
image forming apparatus with the certified configuration
information stored in the data base.
The control unit may generate the configuration information using
the integrated circuit chips installed in the control unit and the
process cartridge.
The host computer may generate new certified configuration
information each time it approves the request for communications
requested by the image forming apparatus. In this case, the new
certified configuration information generated is different from the
one previously generated and the image forming apparatus updates
the newly generated certified configuration information after the
communications for the monetary information is completed.
The host computer may control the history information of the image
forming apparatus in association with the newly generated certified
configuration application and afterwards accepts the request for
communications when receiving it with the newly generated certified
configuration application from the image forming apparatus.
The history information may include apparatus history information
including a cumulative number of prints performed, a cumulative
amount of consumable items consumed, configuration of optional
equipment, and errors that have occurred.
The history information may include customer history information
including names of users and a cumulative number of prints
performed per each user.
The present application further describes a novel information
control method. One example, a novel information control method
includes the steps of providing, placing, establishing, generating,
storing, sending, creating, writing, transferring, updating,
transmitting, and approving. The providing step provides an image
forming apparatus which includes a control unit, a data input and
output port, a process cartridge, a memory, and a first
communication mechanism. The control unit includes an integrated
circuit chip dedicated for an electronic money application. The
data input and output port is configured to exchange monetary
information via the integrated circuit chip. The process cartridge
includes an electronic money application unit including another
integrated circuit chip dedicated for the electronic money
application. The first communication mechanism is configured to
perform communications for the monetary information. The placing
step places an external host computer located at a remote control
center. Such an external host computer includes a data base and a
second communications mechanism. The data base stores history
information for a plurality of image recording apparatuses
including the image forming apparatus. The second communications
mechanism is configured to perform communications for the monetary
information. The establishing step establishes a communication
connection between the image forming apparatus and the external
host computer establish with a specific address predetermined by
the remote control center. The generating step generates
configuration information of the image forming apparatus. The
storing step stores the configuration information in the memory.
The sending step sends the configuration information to the host
computer through the communication connection. The creating step
creates a certified configuration information by adding a
certification code to the configuration information sent from the
image forming apparatus. The writing step writes the certified
configuration information in the data base at the specific address.
The transferring step transfers the certified configuration
information back to the image forming apparatus. The updating step
updates the configuration information stored in the memory with the
certified configuration information received from the host computer
after verification with the configuration information stored in the
memory. The transmitting step transmits a request for
communications for the monetary information with the certified
configuration information. The approving step approves the request
for communications for the monetary information transmitted from
the image forming apparatus by verifying the certified
configuration information transferred from the image forming
apparatus with the certified configuration information written in
the data base.
The generating step may generate the configuration information
using the integrated circuit chips mounted in the control unit and
the process cartridge.
The above-described information control method may further include
steps of generating new certified configuration information each
time the approving step approves the request for communications
transmitted from the image forming apparatus. In this case, the
certified configuration information newly generated is different
from the one previously generated. Further, the above-described
information control method may update the newly generated certified
configuration information after the communications for the monetary
information is completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the present application and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an illustration for showing an IC card inlet of the image
forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an illustration for showing an IC card inlet of a process
cartridge of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a monetary information
control system according to a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary procedure of an
initial setting operation performed by the image forming apparatus
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an illustration for showing an example of the contents of
a data base held in a host computer at a control center;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary authorization
procedure when a request for communication is raised by the image
forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary procedure for
authorizing the communications when the image forming apparatus of
FIG. 1 changes its configuration;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary procedure of an
automatic fee payment for image forming operations performed on the
image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 using an electronic money IC
card; and
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary procedure of a
control operation performed by the monetary information control
system of FIG. 5 when a process cartridge is exchanged in the image
forming apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another exemplary procedure
performed when the process cartridge need to be exchanged.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings,
specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However,
the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific
terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each
specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate
in a similar manner.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeral
designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several
views, particularly to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an image forming
apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment is described. The
image forming apparatus 1 includes a data input/output port 1b, a
control unit 2, a process cartridge 3, a communication unit 6, and
an operation panel unit 7. In the following description, the term
"input/output" may be referred to as I/O.
The data input/output port 1b is configured to be connected to an
electronic money IC (integrated circuit) card 4 which includes an
electronic money IC (integrated circuit) chip 4a, a data
input/output port 4b, a CPU (central processing unit) 4c, and a
memory 4d. The electronic money IC chip 4a handles electronic money
information. In the following description, the term "electronic
money" may be referred to as EM.
The control unit 2 includes an electronic money IC (integrated
circuit) chip 2a, a CPU (central processing unit) 2c, a memory 2d,
an optical unit 2e, a driving unit 2f, a process unit 2g, and a
fixing unit 2h. The electronic money IC chip 2a handles electronic
money information. The optical unit 2e controls laser light for
forming a latent image on a photoconductive member in an image
forming process of the image forming apparatus 1. The driving unit
2f controls a transfer of a recording sheet. The process unit 2g
controls a process in which the latent image formed with the
optical unit 2e is developed with toner and is transferred onto the
recording sheet. The fixing unit 2h controls a fixing process for
fixing the toner image on the recording sheet.
The process cartridge 3 includes an electronic money unit 5 which
has a configuration similar to that of the electronic money IC
card, as shown in FIG. 1, and which includes an electronic money IC
(integrated circuit) chip 5a, a data input/output port 5b, a CPU
(central processing unit) 5c, and a memory 5d. The process
cartridge 3 is configured to be detachable from the image forming
apparatus 1. The electronic money IC chip 5a handles electronic
money information.
The communications unit 6 is connected to a communications network,
such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a local area
network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, etc., and
performs data communications with a data terminal such as a PC
(personal computer) through the communications network under the
control of the CPU 2c of the control unit 2. The operation panel
unit 7 includes various person-machine interface components (not
shown), such as an alphanumeric-key pad, an LCD (liquid crystal
display), functions keys, etc., for exchanging commands and
responses between the operator and the CPU 2c.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an
original reading section 9 at an upper part thereof and an
electrophotographic image forming section 10 at a mid part thereof.
In the original reading section 9, an original D is placed on an
original input table 9a and is input by a pickup roller 9b into an
original separation unit 9c which is configured to separate the
original D one by one with a feed roller and a reverse roller. The
separated original D is transferred with a plurality of transfer
rollers 9d to an original reading sensor 11 which reads the
original D. After passing by the original reading sensor 11, the
original D is further transferred and is ejected by an ejection
roller 9e to an original ejection tray 9f.
The image forming section 10 uses an electrophotographic method and
includes a photoconductive member 12 and, around the
photoconductive member 12, several components such as a charging
unit 10a, a development unit 10b, a transfer roller 17, a cleaning
unit 10c included in the process cartridge 3. The photoconductive
member 12 is arranged to be exposed to laser light L generated by a
laser optical system unit 13 in accordance with image data.
In the image forming process, a recording sheet P contained in a
sheet cassette 14 is picked up by a feed roller 14a and is
transferred by a transfer roller 15 to a registration roller 16.
The registration roller 16 transfers the recording sheet P to a nip
portion formed between the photoconductive member 12 and the
transfer roller 17 in synchronism with the rotation of the
photoconductive member 12, wherein a latent image formed by an
exposure with the laser light L is developed into a visible image
with toner on the photoconductive member 12. The toner image formed
on the photoconductive member 12 is then transferred onto the
recording sheet P by the transfer roller 17. After that, the
recording sheet P is transferred to a fixing unit 18 which fixes
the toner image with heat and pressure using a heat roller 18a and
a pressure roller 18b. The recording sheet P thus having the fixed
toner image thereon is further transferred to an ejection roller
10d and is ejected by the ejection roller 10d to a recording sheet
ejection tray 10e.
The entire control of the image forming apparatus 1 including a
control of the above-described sequential operations performed by
the original section 9 and the image forming section 10 is executed
by an electric control system included in the control unit 2
containing various electric components such as a an electrical
power supply (battery) and a plurality of integrated circuits.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an
electronic money IC (integrated circuit) card inlet 1a for
receiving the EM IC card 4. When the EM IC card 4 is inserted into
the IC card inlet 1a, the data input/output port 4b (FIG. 1) is
connected to the data input/output port 1b and data exchange
therebetween is thereby made possible.
Therefore, the thus-configured image forming apparatus 1 can
exchange various kinds of information with the EM IC card 4 when
the EM IC card 4 is inserted into the IC card inlet 1a of the image
forming apparatus 1. For example, payment of a fee for exchanging a
consumable item such as toner or a maintenance part requiring a
periodic exchange, which may be determined in accordance with a
number of prints, for example, may be executed through the above
card operation.
Also, with the EM unit 5 provided to the process cartridge 3 (FIG.
1), the process cartridge 3 can handle the monetary information and
the payment of fee for the process cartridge 3 or other fees
associated with a recycle work related to the process cartridge
3.
The data input/output port 1b (FIG. 1) may be combined with the
data input/output port 5b and, in this case, the combined data
input/output port 5b is positioned next to the EM IC card inlet 1a
(FIG. 3).
The EM IC card 4 may handle various kinds of monetary information
including the information indicating an amount of money and various
kinds of property information such as an identification for
identifying an owner of the EM IC card 4, etc. The EM unit 5 of the
process cartridge 3 handles various kinds of property information
such as a part number or a type number for identifying the process
cartridge 3, a manufacturing number, functional information such as
a number of effective prints with the process cartridge 3, physical
dimensions, etc., and price information representing a price of the
process cartridge 3. When the process cartridge 3 is installed in
the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1
receives the above various kinds of information from the EM unit 5
of the process cartridge 3. With the information received from the
EM unit 5, the image forming apparatus 1 can automatically proceed
the payment of an expense of the process cartridge 3 and suitably
adjust the conditions for the image forming process.
When the process cartridge 3 is removed from the image forming
apparatus 1 at a time of the periodic exchange, the monetary
information is stored in the EM unit 5. In this case, the monetary
information includes money information such as a recycle fee and so
on and information for authorizing an exchange of the money
information, as well as history information related to the process
cartridge 3 and to the user and information useful for the recycle
work.
The process cartridge 3 removed from the image forming apparatus 1
is subjected to an exchange of the monetary information with the EM
IC card 4. For this purpose, the process cartridge 3 has an IC
(integrated circuit) card inlet 3a, as shown in FIG. 4, through
which the EM IC card 4 is inserted and the data input/output port
4b of the EM IC card 4 is connected to the data input/output port
5b. When the EM IC card 4 is connected to the process cartridge 3,
the EM IC card 4 is first checked if it is a proper card with the
information for authorizing an exchange of monetary information. If
the EM IC card 4 is proved as a proper card, the monetary
information is exchanged. The EM unit 5 of the process cartridge 5
is provided with a backup battery 3b, as shown in FIG. 4, for
storing the monetary information for a relatively long time period
and performing the exchange of the various information, etc. This
backup battery 3b may be charged during the time when it is
installed in an operable condition in the image forming apparatus
1.
The process cartridge 3 removed from the image forming apparatus 1
may be collected by a recycle company, for example, and, at the
recycle company, the process cartridge 3 can be subjected to an
exchange of the monetary information with an apparatus having a
function similar to that of the EM IC card 4. The money information
may be sent to a host computer of an accounting section of the
recycle company so as to be used for invoicing, and the property
information may be sent to a host computer of a work shop of that
company so that a recycle work may be conducted in accordance with
the history information, for example.
The communication unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 1 is
configured to transmit and receive the monetary information at a
relatively high speed so that transaction of monetary information
can be quickly processed. With this feature, the image forming
apparatus 1 can send the monetary information on an as-needed basis
to, for example, a control center which deals with the image
forming apparatuses at an one-by-one basis. Such a control center
can collect the user information according to the property
information included in the monetary information, control an
inventory of necessary parts and consumable items according to the
contents of the property information, and control a history of
individual apparatus according to the property information
representing the machine history, the machine configuration,
etc.
The communication unit 6 performs the communications of the
monetary information with the control center in response to a
demand raised by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the
communication unit 6 performs the communications when the image
forming apparatus 1 receives the monetary information from the EM
IC card 4 and needs to perform the transaction of the monetary
information. For another example, the communication unit 6 performs
the communications when the image forming apparatus 1 receives the
monetary information from the process cartridge 3 after an exchange
of the process cartridge 3 at a periodic exchange occasion.
The image forming apparatus 1 may perform the above communications
of the monetary information with the control center through the
communication unit 6 during a time of a self-diagnostic test at a
power-on time, during a specific time of a day when the image
forming apparatus 1 is less occupied with the image forming
operation, or at a time immediately before the power of the image
forming apparatus 1 is shut down.
The image forming apparatus 1 may use various kinds of networks
including the Internet for the communications with the
communication unit 6. When the Internet is used, the image forming
apparatus 1 uses E-mail or an FTP (file transfer protocol)
function. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 performs quick
communications of the monetary information utilizing various
popular software products, without a need of establishing a new
network system and software.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a control system of the monetary
information according to a preferred embodiment is explained. A
monetary information control system 100 includes a control center
20 and a plurality of image forming apparatus which are provided
with a configuration similar to that of the image forming apparatus
1 of FIG. 1 and communicate with the control center 20. For
convenience sake, the image forming apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. 5
as a representative of the plurality of the image forming
apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 5, the monetary information control system 100
includes a host computer 21 which includes a data base 22 of
history information and a communication unit 26 for performing
communication with the communication unit 6 of the image forming
apparatus 1 via a network 25. The data base 22 includes a plurality
of history information sectors for the image forming apparatuses.
Each sector stores history information of a specific image forming
apparatus. For example, a sector labeled with the address ADR#005
stores the history information of the image forming apparatus
1.
In the monetary information control system 100, the image forming
apparatus 1 is provided with a specific address, ADR #005, for
example, as shown in FIG. 5, by the control center 20 when the
image forming apparatus 1 is installed and a line connection for
communications between the image forming apparatus 1 and the host
computer 21 is established with this specific address. When the
line connection is established using the address ADR#005 between
the image forming apparatus 1 and the host computer 21, the image
forming apparatus 1 can read and write history information relative
to the address ADR#005 in the data base 22 of the host computer
21.
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with
information used in the process for obtaining authorization of
monetary information communications. Referring to FIG. 6, an
exemplary procedure of an initial setting operation performed by
the image forming apparatus 1 for authorization of monetary
information communications is explained.
In Step S1 of FIG. 6, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 in the image
forming apparatus 1 reads and recognizes a machine configuration
and an address ADR#005 provided by the control center 20 when power
is supplied to the image forming apparatus 1 for the first time
after its installation. In Step S2, the CPU 2c generates
configuration information based on the machine configuration. The
configuration information is stored in the memory 2d. In Step S3,
the CPU 2c instructs the communication unit 6 to connect to the
host computer 21 using the address ADR#005. In Step S4, the CPU 2c
sends the configuration information to the host computer 21 via the
communication units 6 and 26.
In Step S5, the host computer 21 generates certified configuration
information by adding an authorization code to the configuration
information received from the image forming apparatus 1. The
authorization code is calculated by the host computer 21 based on
specific rules determined by the control center 20. The certified
configuration information is stored in the data base 22 at an
address assigned in association with the address ADR#005. FIG. 7
shows an example of the contents of the data base 22. In Step S6,
the host computer 21 sends the certified configuration information
to the image forming apparatus 1.
In Step S7, upon a receipt of the certified configuration
information sent from the host computer 21, the CPU 2c of the
control unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 1 verifies the
certified configuration information with the configuration
information stored in the memory 2d. In Step S8, the CPU 2c
determines if the configuration is properly verified in Step S7. If
the configuration is not properly verified in Step S7 and the
determination result of Step S8 is NO, the CPU 2c returns the
process to Step S4 to repeat the above-described procedure until
the configuration is properly verified. If the configuration is
properly verified in Step S7 and the determination result of Step
S8 is YES, the CPU 2c proceeds the process to Step S9 in which the
CPU 2c stores the certified configuration information into the
memory 2d. Then, the CPU 2c ends the process.
Referring to FIG. 8, an exemplary authorization procedure when a
request for communication is raised by the image forming apparatus
1 is explained. In the monetary information control system 100, the
image forming apparatus 1 raises a request for communication to
exchange the monetary information and the history information when
a payment transaction has occurred in the image forming apparatus
1, when the process cartridge 3 is exchanged, when the recycle work
is performed, and so on. In Step S10 of FIG. 8, the CPU 2c
generates a request for communication. In Step S11, the CPU 2c
instructs the communication unit 6 to connect to the host computer
21 using the address ADR#005. In Step S12, the CPU 2c sends the
certified configuration information stored in the memory 2d to the
host computer 21.
In Step S13, the host computer 21 verifies the certified
configuration information sent from the image forming apparatus 1
with the information stored in the data base at the address
ADR#005. In Step S14, the host computer 21 determines if the
certified configuration information is properly verified. The host
computer 21 sends authorization to the image forming apparatus 1 if
the certified configuration information is properly verified and
the determination result of Step S14 is YES, or rejection if the
certified configuration information is not properly verified and
the determination result of Step S14 is NO. In the case of
rejection, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 of the image forming
apparatus 1 receives the rejection sent from the host computer 21
and displays a message indicating that the request for
communication is rejected through the operation panel unit 7, in
Step S17. Then, the process ends.
In Step S15, the CPU 2c receives the authorization sent from the
host computer 21. In Step S16, the CPU 2c starts the communications
for exchanging the monetary information with the host computer 21.
In Step S18, the host computer 21 checks if the communications for
the monetary information with the image forming apparatus 1 is
completed. The check of Step S18 forms a NO loop to return to Step
S16 unless the check result becomes YES.
If the communications with the image forming apparatus 1 is
completed and the check result of Step S18 is YES, the host
computer 21 generates new certified configuration information by
adding new authorization code to the previous certified
configuration information, in Step S19. In Step S20, the host
computer 21 sends the new certified configuration information to
the image forming apparatus 1.
In Step S21, the image forming apparatus 1 verifies the new
certified configuration information sent from the host computer 21
with the certified configuration information stored in the memory
2d. In Step S22, the CPU 2c determines if the new certified
configuration information is properly verified in Step S21. If the
new certified configuration information is not properly verified
and the determination result of Step S22 is NO, the CPU 2c sends
the certified configuration information to the host computer 21, in
Step S23, and the process then returns to Step S19 to repeat the
above-described operations until the new certified configuration
information is properly verified.
If the new certified configuration information is properly verified
and the determination result of Step S22 is YES, the CPU 2c updates
the configuration information with the new certified configuration
information in the memory 2d, in Step S24. Then, the process
ends.
In this way, the monetary information control system 100 can allow
the host computer to properly identify an apparatus (i.e., the
image forming apparatus 1) that requests communications for
exchanging monetary information by executing revision and
confirmation of the certified configuration information given to
the apparatus each time when the host computer receives such
request. Thereby, the monetary information control system 100 can
achieve a relatively high level information security.
Referring to FIG. 9, an exemplary procedure for authorizing
communications when the image forming apparatus 1 changes its
configuration is explained. In this case, an approval code for
allowing a configuration change is predefined and is prestored in
the history information.
In Step S25 of FIG. 9, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 in the
image forming apparatus 1 recognizes the configuration through the
self-diagnostic at a power-on time. In Step S26, the CPU 2c
generates configuration information and temporarily stores it in
the memory 2d. In Step S27, the CPU 2c checks if the generated
configuration information is identical to the previous
configuration information (previous certified configuration
information). If the generated configuration information is
identical to the previous configuration information and the check
result of Step S27 is YES, the process ends. If the generated
configuration information is not identical to the previous
configuration information and the check result of Step S27 is NO,
the process proceeds to Step S28 in which the CPU 2c connect to the
host computer 21 with the address AR#005. In Step S29, the CPU 2c
sends the previous certified configuration information to the host
computer 21. In Step S30, the host computer 21 verifies the
configuration information (previous certified configuration
information) sent from the image forming apparatus 1 with the
configuration information (previous certified configuration
information) stored in the data base at ADR#005. In Step S31, the
host computer 21 determines if the above verification is completed
successfully. If the host computer 21 fails in the above
verification and the check result of Step S31 is NO, the host
computer 21 sends rejection to the image forming apparatus 1. In
Step S32, the image forming apparatus 1 receives the rejection of
the communications and displays a message indicating that the
request for communication is failed, through the operation panel
unit 7. Then, the process ends.
If the host computer 21 succeeds in executing the above
verification and the check result of Step S31 is YES, the host
computer 21 sends authorization for the communications to the image
forming apparatus 1. In Step S33, after the image forming apparatus
1 receives the authorization sent from the host computer 21, the
predefined approval code is entered through the operation panel
unit 7 by the operator and the CPU 2c sends it to the host computer
21. As an alternative to sending the approval code, the operator
may send identification information for identifying a specific card
owner registered in the EM IC card 4. Further, the operator may
send the above identification information with a predefined
password for a configuration change.
In Step S34, the host computer 21 verifies the approval code sent
from the image forming apparatus 1 and determines if the approval
code is correct. If the approval code is incorrect and the
determination result of Step S34 is NO, the process goes to Step
S32 so as to send rejection of the communications to the image
forming apparatus 1, as described above. If the approval code is
correct and the determination result of Step S34 is YES, the host
computer 21 sends confirmation of the approval code to the image
forming apparatus 1. Then, in Step S35, upon a receipt of the
acceptance sent from the host computer 21, the CPU 2c of the
control unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 1 sends the new
configuration information temporarily stored in the memory 2d in
Step S26 to the host computer 21. In Step S36, upon a receipt of
the new configuration information sent from the image forming
apparatus 1, the host computer 21 generates new certified
configuration information by adding a new certification code to the
new configuration information received from the image forming
apparatus 1 and stores it in the data base 22 at ADR#005. In Step
S37, the host computer 21 sends the new certified configuration
information to the image forming apparatus 1.
In Step S38, upon a receipt of the new certified configuration
information sent from the host computer 21, the CPU 2c of the
control unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 1 verifies the
configuration information included in the new certified
configuration information sent from the host computer 21 with the
new configuration information stored in the memory 2d. In Step S39,
the CPU 2c determines if the above verification is successfully
completed. If the verification is not successfully completed and
the determination result of Step S39 is NO, the process returns to
Step S35 to repeat the above-described procedure until the
verification is successfully completed. If the verification is
successfully completed and the determination result of Step S39 is
YES, the process proceeds to Step S40 and the CPU 2c updates the
configuration information in the memory 2c with the new certified
configuration information sent from the host computer 21.
In this way, the monetary information control system 100 can allow
an apparatus (i.e., the image forming apparatus 1) to change its
configuration and to implement such configuration change to the
data base of the host computer without losing its relatively high
level of information security. Therefore, the monetary information
control system 100 can reasonably safely be used even with the
Internet, for example.
Referring to FIG. 10, an exemplary procedure of an automatic fee
payment for the image forming operations performed on the image
forming apparatus 1 using the electronic money IC card 4 is
explained. In this case, a fee for one operation of the image
forming is predefined and the fee is paid from the EM IC card 4 to
the image forming apparatus 1.
In Step S41 of FIG. 10, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 in the
image forming apparatus 1 checks if the EM IC card 4 is inserted to
the IC card inlet 1a of the image forming apparatus 1. The check of
Step S41 forms a NO loop for holding the process until the EM IC
card 4 is inserted. If the EM IC card 4 is inserted and the check
result of Step S41, the CPU 2c receives the monetary information
from the EM IC card 4, in Step S42. The monetary information
includes a present amount of money remaining in the EM IC card 4,
an owner's name for identifying a name of the owner of the EM IC
card 4, and so on.
In Step S43, the CPU 2c displays the present amount of money and
the owner's name received from the EM IC card 4 through the
operation panel unit 7. With this process, the operator can confirm
the contents of the EM IC card 4, such as the present amount of
money, the card owner's name, etc.
In Step S44, the CPU 2c instructs the EM IC card 4 using the card
owner's name to send the history of usage of the image forming
apparatus 1. With this process, the various kinds of special
services on the usage of the image forming apparatus 1 may be
applied to the card owner. For example, the fee for the image
forming operation per recording sheet may be discounted. As another
example, certain conditions for the image forming operation, such
as a sheet size, a sheet orientation, etc., may be preset for the
user's convenience.
In Step S45, the CPU 2c checks if any input is made through the
operation panel unit 7 by the user of the EM IC card 4. The check
of Step S45 forms a NO loop for holding the process until an input
is made. If the user gives a command through the operation panel
unit 7 and the check result of Step S45 is YES, the CPU 2c further
checks in Step S46 if the user has entered a cancel code for
canceling the command input. If the user has put in a cancel code
and the check result of Step S46 is YES, the CPU 2c displays a
message indicating that the operation is canceled through the
operation panel unit 7, in Step S47. Then, the process ends.
If the user puts in another code (i.e., a confirmation code) rather
than a cancel code and the check result of Step S46 is NO, the
process proceeds to Step S48. In Step S48, the CPU 2c displays the
input command through the operation panel unit 7. Further, in Step
S48, the CPU 2c calculates the fee to be charged for the image
forming operations performed in accordance with the input command
and the balance of the present amount of money remaining in the EM
IC card 4 and the fee for the requested image forming operations.
In the above calculations, if the user is applied with any discount
described above, such a discount is taken into account. Further, in
Step S48, the CPU 2c also displays the calculation result through
the operation panel unit 7.
In Step S49, the CPU 2c checks if the user has put in a
confirmation code for further proceeding with the operation. If the
user has put in a code (i.e., a cancel code) than the confirmation
code and the check result of Step S49 is NO, the process returns to
Step S45 to repeat the above-described operations. If the user
inputs the confirmation code and the check result of Step S49 is
YES, the process proceeds to Step S50. In Step S50, the CPU 2c
determines if the present amount of money remaining in the EM IC
card 4 is greater than the fee for the demanded operations as a
result of the balance calculation performed in Step S48. If the
present amount is not greater than the fee for the demanded
operations and the determination result of Step S50 is NO, the CPU
2c displays an amount of balance due through the operation panel
unit 7, in Step S51, and returns to Step S45 to allow the user to
change the command to input.
If the present amount is greater than the fee for the demanded
operations and the determination result of Step S50 is YES, the CPU
2c performs a money collection process (Step S52) for collecting
the money from the EM IC card 4 in accordance with the calculations
performed in Step S48. In this process, the monetary information
stored in the memory 4d of the EM IC card 4 is rewritten in
accordance with the calculations performed by the CPU 2c of the
control unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 1 in Step S48. In
Step S53, the CPU 2c starts to perform the operation demanded by
the user in Step S45 and instructs the CPU 4c of the EM IC card 4
to update the history information. Further, in Step S53, the CPU 2c
send the history information to the host computer 21 of the control
center 20 so as to update the data base at the address ADR#005. In
Step S54, upon a completion of the demanded operation, the CPU 2c
displays the completion of the demanded operation through the
operation panel unit 7 and sends the monetary information to the
host computer 21. The process then ends.
Referring to FIG. 11, an exemplary procedure of the control
operation performed by the monetary information control system 100
when the process cartridge 3 is exchanged in the image forming
apparatus 1 is explained. It is assumed that the image forming
apparatus 1 is out of toner and therefore the process cartridge 3
containing a toner tank has been exchanged, for example. As another
example, when the photoconductive member 12 is exchanged because
its life time is ended, the procedure similar to the above will be
taken place.
In Step S55 of FIG. 11, the CPU 2c checks if the new process
cartridge 3 is installed in the image forming apparatus 1. The
check of Step S55 forms a NO loop for holding the process until the
new process cartridge 3 is installed. This process may be performed
each power-on time, each time a toner end is detected or a life end
of the photoconductive member is detected, or each time after some
action is taken based on the above detection.
If the new process cartridge 3 is installed and the check result of
Step S55 is YES, the CPU 2c receives the monetary information from
the EM unit 5 of the new process cartridge 3, in Step S56. The CPU
2c mainly receives the property information from the monetary
information. The property information includes a part number, a
manufacturing number, and functional information which identify the
process cartridge 3. The property information further includes
price information indicative of a price of the process cartridge
3.
In Step S57, the CPU 2c verifies the property information received
from the new process cartridge 3 with the property information of
the previous process cartridge 3 contained in the configuration
information which is stored in the memory 2d and determines if the
verification is successfully completed. If the verification is
successfully completed and the determination result of Step S57 is
YES, the process proceeds to Step S65 in which the CPU 2c moves
into the regular routine. Then, the process ends.
If the property information of the new process cartridge 3 is not
properly verified with the property information of the previous
process cartridge 3 and the determination result of Step S57 is NO,
the CPU 2c sends an inquiry on the property information of the new
process cartridge to the host computer 21 of the control center 20,
in Step S58. In Step S59, the CPU 2c checks in the monetary
information if the fee for the exchange of the process cartridge 3
is paid. If the fee is not paid and the check result of Step S59 is
NO, the process proceeds to Step S60 in which the CPU 2c displays a
message indicating that the process cartridge 3 has been exchanged
and the user is requested to insert the EM IC card 4 to pay for the
process cartridge 3.
In Step S61, the CPU 2c performs a money collection process. In the
money collection process, the CPU 2c checks if the EM IC card 4 is
inserted. If the EM IC card 4 is inserted, the CPU 2c receives the
monetary information from the card 4. Then, the CPU 2c displays the
card owner's name and the present amount of money remaining in the
card 4. The CPU 2c calculates any discount in accordance with the
history information. Then, the CPU 2c displays a message indicating
that the process cartridge 3 has been exchanged and the calculated
fee is collected, and wait for an input of a confirmation code by
the user. If the process is cancelled at this time, the CPU 2c
stops the process and proceeds to Step S62. If the process is
confirmed, the CPU 2c determines if the calculated fee can be
collected from the present amount of money remaining in the EM IC
card 4 and, if the calculated fee is determined as can be
collected, the CPU 2c performs the collection and proceed to Step
S52.
In Step S62, the CPU determines if the process is cancelled in the
above money collection process. If the process is cancelled and the
determination result of Step S62 is YES, the process ends. If the
process is not cancelled and the determination result of Step S62
is NO, the process proceeds to Step S63 in which the CPU 2 updates
the configuration information in the memory 2d and displays a
message indicating that the exchange of the process cartridge 3 has
been completed. In Step S64, the CPU 2c checks if the user responds
to the above display by inputting a confirmation code. The check of
Step S64 forms a NO loop to wait until the user input the
confirmation code. If the user inputs the confirmation code and the
check result of Step S64 is YES, the CPU 2c moves into the regular
routine. Then, the process ends.
In the check of Step S59, there are two cases which lead to a YES
result. In a first case, the new process cartridge 3 is a recycled
process cartridge 3 and the user has paid for it before the
exchange operation. For such a case, the data base 22 in the host
computer 21 may be generated based on the property information
which is used for the registration of the property information to
the EM unit 5 of the process cartridge 3. Since the history
information such as the recycle history information can be included
in the property information registered in the EM unit 5, the data
base 22 thus can include such recycle history information. Thereby,
it becomes possible for the CPU 2c by sending an inquiry of the
monetary information to the host computer 21 to recognize that the
payment for the process cartridge 3 is settled.
In a second case, the user holds a plurality of process cartridges
3 for some reason and uses it by exchanging one after another. For
such a case, the configuration information for the image forming
apparatus 1 registered in the data base 22 of the host computer 21
is arranged to includes a plurality of the identification
information. When one of the process cartridges 3 is subjected to
the recycle process, the identification information of such process
cartridge 3 may be deleted from the configuration information for
the image forming apparatus 1 registered in the data base 22.
Referring to FIG. 12, an exemplary procedure of the control
operation performed by the monetary information control system 100
when the process cartridge 3 is exchanged for the recycle process
in the image forming apparatus 1 is explained. It is assumed that
the life time of the process cartridge 3, for example, is ended and
therefore the process cartridge 3 is exchanged and is subjected to
the recycle process. As another example, when the photoconductive
member 12 is exchanged because its life time is ended, the
procedure similar to the above will be taken place.
In Step S70 of FIG. 12, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 in the
image forming apparatus 1 checks if the process cartridge 3 needs
to be exchanged. The check of Step S70 forms a NO loop to continue
until the CPU 2c detects that the process cartridge 3 should be
exchanged. If the process cartridge 3 should be exchanged and the
check result of Step S70 is YES, the CPU 2c displays the need for a
recycle process, in Step S71. In Step S72, the CPU 2c checks if the
user inputs a confirmation code for confirming the performance of
the recycle process. If the user inputs a code other than the
confirmation code and the check result of Step S72 is NO, the CPU
2c ends the process. If the user inputs the confirmation code and
the check result of Step S72 is YES, the CPU 2c proceeds to Step
S73 and displays a message indicating that the recycle of the
process cartridge 3 has proceeded. At the same time, the CPU 2c
sends a request for a recycle process to the host computer 21.
In Step S74, upon a receipt of the recycle request sent from the
image forming apparatus 1, the host computer 21 generates a plan
for collecting the process cartridge 3 from the image forming
apparatus 1 based on the information of a location of the image
forming apparatus 1 and a location of the recycle work shop read
from the history information and a schedule of transportation
(e.g., a truck) for collection. At this time, the host computer 21
can search an inventory of other consumable items or parts held at
the site of the image forming apparatus 1 and calculate when these
consumable items or parts are in short supply and should be
replenished. Therefore, it is possible for the host computer 21 to
arrange a delivery of additional consumable items or parts, if
needed as a part of the above collection plan.
In Step S75, the host computer 21 sends the monetary information
generated as the money information or the property information, and
the above collection plan to the image forming apparatus 1. As
described above, the monetary information includes the history
information, particularly, the recycle information, the fee
information related to the recycle process, the information of an
available collection company, and so on.
In Step S76, upon a receipt of the monetary information and the
collection plan, the CPU 2c of the control unit 2 in the image
forming apparatus 1 registers the monetary information to the EM
unit 5. In Step S77, the CPU 2c displays through the operation
panel unit 7 the plan for the collection of the process cartridge 3
and a message indicating that the arrangement of the recycle
process for the process cartridge 3 is completed and therefore the
user can proceed with the exchange of the process cartridge 3.
In this way, the monetary information control system 100 can
improve the user convenience in handling the image forming
apparatus 1 by implementing the automatic arrangement of the
recycle process and the automatic payment process for the recycle
process.
In addition, the above monetary information control system 100 can
handle an automatic repair call to the control center 20 or to a
specific repair center. In this case, it may be useful to
cumulatively store the information indicative of machine usage such
as a number of prints per day, measurement of the internal and
environmental temperature and humidity, and so on in the data base
22 of the host computer 21 in the control center 20. The record of
the above accumulative information can be used for repair as well
as preventive maintenance.
The disclosed system and process may be conveniently implemented
using a conventional general purpose digital computer programmed
according to the teaching of the present specification, as will be
apparent to those skilled in the computer art. Appropriate software
coding can readily be provided by skilled programmers based on the
teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the software art. Various implementation may also use
application specific integrated circuits and/or an appropriate
network of conventional component circuits, as will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art.
Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in
light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that
within the scope of the appended claims, the present application
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
herein.
This application claims priority to Japanese patent application No.
JPAP2000-035485 filed on Feb. 14, 2000 in the Japanese Patent
Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
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